Show-case



rviTen STaTas PATENT OFFICE.

.IOIIN M. SVEENEY, OF LEBANON, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-IIAIJF TO .IULIUS LANG, JR., OF CINCINNATI, OIIIO.

SH OW-CASE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 445,129, dated January 20, 1891.

Application tiled September 29, 1890. Serial No. 366,477. (No model.)

To all whom it 17mg concern:

Beit known that I, JOHN M. SWEENEY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Lebanon, in the county of barren and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and usei ful Improvements in Show-Cases, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a show-case With automatiea-lly-opening doors or shutters.

The various features of my invention will be fully set forth in the description ofthe accompan ying drawings, makinga part of this specification, in which- Figure lis an elevation,partly broken away, of the rear side of the case, showing` the door open. Fig. 2 is a central vertical section of the spring-housing. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of one corner of the show-ease.

l represents the show-case proper; 3, a metallic housing which is secured to the showease by lugs 3 and screws or rivets fi.

5 represents ordinary shutters, doors, or saslrframes forming the top of the show-case.

G represents an axial rod journaled in the bearings 7, formed in the housing. On each end of said axial rod are curved crank-arms S, which project inside of the box under the sash-doors, as shown in Figs. l and 9 represents a spring, one end of which is secured to the axial shaft 7 and the otherend is secured to the washer l0. Said washer is provided with holes ll, so that it may be turned on the rod to coil and uncoil the spring, which is locked in position by dropping a pin in one of said holes after it has been turned to the proper position. In Fig. l, l2 represents such pins on each of the washers l0. Either side of rod 6 is provided with the duplicate spring washers and arms. 'l'he arms S engage in and move ininclined curved calnguides A. Said guides are inclined upward and are attached to the under side of the sash 5, as shown in Fig. l, their outer ends resting in slots in brackets a, also secured to the sash.

The mode of operation. of my device is as follows: The spring 9 is adj usted by turning the washer 10 so that the recoil of the spring will readily raise the sash-door 5, and they are thrown by the force of said spring into the position shown in Fig. l. Then it is desired to close the doors, they are forced down and held by the catch B, which engages with the doors and holds them in position. When the catch is released,the recoil of the spring, act ing through the arms S in the cam-guides A, will instantly open the doors of the show-case upward in position shown in Fig. l.

IIaving described my invention, what I claim is l. In combination with the showcase, the axial rod carrying crank-arms engaging in guides attached to the sash-doors, so that the recoil of the spring will force the arm through the guides and elevate the doors, substantially as described.

In combination with a show-case, the axial rod G, inelosed in a housing 2 and provided with one or more springs and cra-nl;- arms engaging with camslots in compartment-doors, whereby the same are automaticallyopened when the spring is released, substantially as described.

In combination with a show-case having one or more doors, axial rod carrying liftingarms journaled in cam-guides attached to the compartmentdoors, and a catch B for holding said door closed against the action of the opening lifting force, substantially as described.

et. In a show-case, the combination of arms 8 with the cam-guides A, attached to the doors, and a spring device for actuating said arms to open the doors, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

JOHN M. SWEENEY.

Witnesses:

M. J. HUTomNsoN, G. A. BURR. 

